Legislative Assembly Building, Canberra

Legislative Assembly Building
Legislative Assembly Building
	ACT Legislative Assembly Building in November 2021
General information
Type	Legislative
Architectural style	Post-War International
Address	196 London Circuit
Town or city	Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Country	Australia
Coordinates	35°16′54″S 149°07′52″E / 35.281641°S 149.13117°E
Construction started	1959
Completed	1961
Renovated	1994
Client	National Capital Development Commission
Owner	ACT Government
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Roy Simpson
Architecture firm	Yuncken Freeman
Main contractor	Concrete Constructions Pty Ltd

The Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly Building, also known as the South Building, is located on the southern side of Civic Square, London Circuit, Civic in the Australian Capital Territory. The public entrance to the Assembly is accessible from Civic Square, on the eastern side adjacent to the Canberra Theatre Centre.^[1]

History

The building was designed as one part of the Canberra Civic Square, also incorporating the Canberra Theatre and Museum, in 1959–1961 by Roy Simpson of Yuncken Freeman for the National Capital Development Commission.^[2] Originally was known as the "Civic Offices", they were originally built to house the offices of the ACT Advisory Council, the ACT Industrial Court and the Department of the Interior.^[3]^[4]^[5] The modernist-style building has been the home of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 1994 after it was refurbished to accommodate the Chamber and provide space for offices. The Assembly first met during 1989 in a temporary Chamber at 1 Constitution Avenue.

The ACT Coat of Arms over the entrance were designed by Lenore Bass, wife of Tom Bass who created the "Ethos" sculpture in Civic Square, and unveiled in September 1961.^[6]^[7]

References

^ Manager, Web (25 February 2021). "Visit". www.parliament.act.gov.au. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
^ "Civic Square". Design Canberra Festival. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
^ "New Civic Offices At City, Bachelor Flats For Turner". The Canberra Times. Vol. 33, no. 9, 336. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 July 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 24 July 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "NEW CIVIC OFFICES TAKEN OVER". The Canberra Times. Vol. 35, no. 9, 854. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 March 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 24 July 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "CIVIC OFFICE BLOCKS BY FEBRUARY". The Canberra Times. Vol. 35, no. 9, 825. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 1 February 1961. p. 20. Retrieved 24 July 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "COAT OF ARMS OVER CIVIC SQUARE". The Canberra Times. Vol. 36, no. 10, 012. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 September 1961. p. 28. Retrieved 24 July 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "STATUE FOR SQUARE NEAR READY". The Canberra Times. Vol. 36, no. 10, 037. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 October 1961. p. 4. Retrieved 24 July 2018 – via National Library of Australia.